I have written about being busy and busy work before. I love working with my million dollar clients, because they get it. (I know, some of you have a HUGE DESIRE to be a million dollar business owner….you have to work through this.) My clients who are not yet, do and they get it they make more money. But it is a struggle for many people who are not making the money they want.
Let me say it again: busy work and being busy are two different things.
In a session with a million dollar client and this very subject came up. She said that so often when people ask her what she’s done to have her million dollar business and she starts to talk, the person interrupts with: “but I’m so busy but I’m so busy.”
Her response? “No, you’re not busy. Real busy is making money.”
Ouch! For some of you that is a statement that stings!
And you know what? I completely agree with her. See, too often new Warrior-Preneurs start a business there still thinking like soldiers. They haven’t made the mental mind shift of choosing their fate, determining what needs to be done to make the money. So they just get busy.
The problem for most? Is not knowing what makes money. And guess what? It’s not just making your product over and over again that makes you money. It’s not hanging out on Facebook. That is just busy work, not being busy. It’s marketing in a creative and unique way.
This business owner in her session said to me; “Ann, I could sell anything I want and be successful. Because I know how to create a brand experience that people want to buy. It could be dog poop I’m selling and I could make it a million dollar business.”
Some of you DON’T believe that. (And some are offended…and still not making money.)
You are stuck…thinking it’s the perfect product or service that sells.
No, it’s the brand experience that sells.
Oh! And don’t you find it interesting that a business owner that ALREADY GETS IT and DOES IT has a coach that helps her achieve it?
Next week I will tell you what a financially struggling client says to this…curious? Or do you already know?
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
Relationships are one of the six core influencers to develop in your life. I’ve noticed lately when someone invites me to an evening event, class or networking that falls on Thursday, that their reaction to my answers is interesting. See, Thursday night in my life is DATE NIGHT. Date night is a critical and pivotal part of building my influential self. You may recall that one of the six core areas to build your Influential Voice is relationships.
We didn’t always do date night for our relationship. We’ve been together, and through a ton over the years. Our choice to start date night (we go out for dinner, drinks and take dance lessons) was about creating a more powerful, stronger, sexier, more loving relationship. Our choice was because “for granted” started to happen. Our choice was because we had created the VISION of what it looked like, now it was time to truly make it happen.
Don’t you want that?
Don’t you know your business thrives when you have that in your life?
Do you understand that you become Influential when you choose relationship?
So back to my original point: the reaction to my response. My response is simply: “Thank you, but that is date night, I am unable to.” (Ah, there are boundaries yet again…did you read that post?) See, my commitment to relationship matters. The reaction often feels like one of “That’s all? Really?” Like it’s somehow a lame one. An excuse, A cop out. (Except for others that also focus on it, they GET IT. They are actually a minority though.)
Oh but I hear you! “ANNNNNNNN!! I have to GROW my business! I have to get out there right? So my relationship may not get the attention it needs while I am growing my brand. RIGHT?”
Yes. And no. Getting out there EVERYWHERE, with no clear goal? No alignment to who you are and what matters most? A waste of time. And when your relationships suffer, you energetically change at those events.
Don’t be offended by the fact that relationship is one of the six core infleuncers I choose to work on. Be happy for me. Honored maybe even a little that you know someone who does. And then decide how you will focus on yours.
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
Setting boundaries is one of the hardest things in business success. For me it all relates to knowing your Self-Worth. At some point we have to draw some lines in the sand and own our values, target market and brand message. In an article I write for Showcasing Women, I explain some of this further if you’d like to take a peek. See, self- worth is partially based on knowing what you value and making decisions EVERY day based on those values. CONSCIOUS choices…every day.
For example, when you are asked to guest blog on someone else’s site…what is your answer?
Or be interviewed for a radio show?
What about speak in front of a group?
Or be on a panel?
If you have self-worth your answer is never just “yes” or “no” (thank-you). Your answer is a question, or a series of questions. Setting boundaries for your business is tough if you just say yes or no without asking some smart questions first!
Recently I was asked to participate on a panel for women in leadership. Initially it sounded very interesting, and we can be quick to say YES! I paused, consciously thought, and I asked some smart questions regarding my values, time, business and target market. The answer was no.
I have been asked many times to “guest blog” sometimes the answer is yes, more often I am setting boundaries and say no. Heck, writing for my OWN blog honestly makes more sense from a traffic standpoint. You did see the statistics for this right? On Social Media today, from the Hubspot ROI Inbound marketing annual report?
So if my business is to be successful doesn’t it make sense for me to blog on my site versus someone else’s? Unless the site I guest blog on REALLY creates a win for my business goals and values?
So I mentioned I guest blog for Showcasing Women above…did you catch that? Do you know how knowing my values and setting boundaries allowed me to say YES?
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
I love talking about building the influential you you can be! So, I wanted to share a great dialogue/interview I had with Stephanie C. Harper of Career Magazine and guest host Anetra Henry Hunting. Although we had some technical difficulties, and I sound a bit tinny (ok, I sound a LOT tinny, but this is powerful good stuff!) I would highly recommend you play it while working and if something strikes you, note the time and replay it! One of the best ways we can learn is while we are working to listen to informative audio in the background. So although this is a video, treat it like an audio and just let it play!
Here are some things I would suggest you think about, look for, and find answers for building the influential you and your business:
• Do you know what it takes to get people to willingly follow your business mission and values.
• Why “warrior” and how you want it in your business mindset.
• What influence really is.
• Why copying doesn’t work for long-term success.
• Why we shouldn’t get angry over copycats when they take our original ideas.
• What is the influence factor in why you want some.
• Why time and money are the same thing, and how important it is to think that way to have success.
• Why TRIBE instead of community or followers is a powerful way to lead your brand .
• How what you do has nothing to do with who you are.
• What are the six core influencers in building your influential you.
• And much much more!
I’d love to hear what you heard in this video that was powerful for building your influential you and business success!
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
Too often I meet people who forget to truly live their lives. I realized this morning that I have absolutely no clue what’s going on in sports. Who’s winning, who’s the world champion, what series is playing. I even made a comment to my husband and said I have no clue what’s going on in sports these days. He replied: “me either.”
He also said when he hangs out with his male friends they always tease him if he doesn’t keep up with every little thing going on in sports and watching all the games. His response to them is pretty simple: “he says I’d rather make my life happen , then watch other people live their lives.”
Hmmm… That is an interesting viewpoint. We actively participate in living our lives. We are not sitting around daydreaming and watching others live their lives. Now I’m not saying if you enjoy sports don’t watch sports, what I am asking is: “Are you living your life? Are you making what you want to have happen in your life happen? Are you fully experiencing everything you desire and dream of in your life?”
This is powerful coming from my husband because he had the potential to play professional ball. He was an All-American in college. He could choose to sit and watch and day dream, and desire, and talk about what would’ve happened if he did. He could live each day through “their lives.” Or he can make his life happen, NOW.
I think entrepreneurs aren’t that different. Spending time day dreaming, watching the lives of others making it happen. Wisihng and hoping.
Are you sitting around watching others live their lives, hoping, dreaming , wishing that yours was different? And are you thinking that somehow that will make it better? It’s time to start living.
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
I have written about being busy and busy work before. I love working with my million dollar clients, because they get it. (I know, some of you have a HUGE DESIRE to be a million dollar business owner….you have to work through this.) My clients who are not yet, do and they get it they make more money. But it is a struggle for many people who are not making the money they want.
